By: M.A.Egge
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The directive by the Public Works Ministry is of course long overdue. It would have, though, worked quite well some four or five years ago.
Of course both directives of prohibition of the importation of right-handed drive vehicles and the six month ultimatum for public service vehicles to alter the sides of passenger entry doors and re-align them to the right side is as per the legal policy.
The directive is plausible for the future, but is it feasible for the here and now? What with the over 40,000 vehicles plying the roads? What about the RHD steering wheels meant for left lane driving course? Will the directive curb the accidents that may evolve from the causative 40,000 RHD steering wheels that may continue plying the roads for the good part of the next decade?
As for policy, we feel that it is best to re-think as to what is the best way out of the situation. What of insurance? Would it be trebled for the wrong handed drives?
Is it not easier to change only the laws hence re-vert to our old left lane course rather than the present right lane course which are hangovers picked from the illegal and ill-fated union with Mogadishu?
And every body would then go home happy.
The writer Mohamed Ahmed Egge is the editor of the Horn Tribune an English weekly newspaper published by the Dawan Media Group in Hargeisa
Email: eggebodle@gmail.com & tht_editor@hotmail.com
